Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 68, Shloka 19

जनकदूतागमनम्

The Arrival of Janaka’s Messengers in Ayodhya

Devanagari script

यदि वो रोचते वृत्तं जनकस्य महात्मन:।पुरीं गच्छामहे शीघ्रं मा भूत्कालस्य पर्यय:।।1.68.19।।

Transliteration

yadi vo rocate vṛttaṁ janakasya mahātmanaḥ |

purīṁ gacchāmahe śīghraṁ mā bhūt kālasya paryayaḥ || 1.68.19 ||

Translation

“If this intention of the great-souled Janaka meets with your approval, let us go swiftly to the city—let there be no delay of time.”

Word by Word

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक-सम्बन्धबोधक (conditional particle)

• vaḥ: of you / to you
• vaḥ: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/अनुमोदक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); षष्ठी/चतुर्थी बहुवचन (Genitive/Dative plural) — enclitic form ‘vaḥ’

• rocate: is pleasing / is approved
• rocate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ruc (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘रुच्’—to please/appeal

• vṛttam: conduct / account / matter
• vṛttam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom/Acc sg); here as subject of ‘rocate’ (that which pleases)

• janakasya: of Janaka
• janakasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन (Genitive sg)

• mahātmanaḥ: of the great-souled
• mahātmanaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन (Genitive sg); विशेषण of ‘janakasya’

• purīm: to the city
• purīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (Acc sg)

• gacchāmahe: we go / we shall go
• gacchāmahe: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present, here with future-intent); उत्तमपुरुष बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• mā: do not / let not
• mā: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेधार्थक (prohibitive particle) used with imperative/optative/aorist injunctive

• bhūt: be / happen
• bhūt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist injunctive/imperative sense with ‘mā’); तृतीयपुरुष एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• kālasya: of time
• kālasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन (Genitive sg)

• paryayaḥ: delay / lapse / turn
• paryayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paryaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (Nom sg); subject of ‘bhūt’

Context

All the messengers, hands folded free from apprehensions, reverentially addressed the king in sweet words.

Characters & Entities

• Janaka
• Mithilā (implied by ‘city’ in context)
• Daśaratha (recipient)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma includes kāla-dharma (timeliness): when a righteous duty is at hand, one should not allow procrastination to weaken auspicious action.

What is the narrative situation?

The envoys urge Daśaratha to approve the proposal and depart quickly for Mithilā.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Decisiveness aligned with propriety—acting promptly once dharmic clarity is established.